People vs. Larry Flynt, The (1996) Movie Script

Larry! Jimmy! That's very good. Good. - How much is it? - Two dollars. There's 1. There's 2. Thank you. - It's locked. - He's in there again. Pa! What are you doing in there? Open up this door. You better not be doing what I think you're doing. Hey! I told you, I make that for peddling. Not for you to drink. Hey, you show some respect. Larry! Jimmy! You all get on to the house. Supper's ready. Why did you hit him? - He was drinking my profits. - You can't be so ornery. - People'll think you're crazy. - No. I'm just trying to make an honest buck. - Larry. - I'll call you back, Mama. Give a big, big hand to Ilanis from Ottawa, Tennessee. Thank you, Jimmy. You know I don't know if you feel the way I do right now but we deliver the finest ladies in southern Ohio. Don't you think? Thank you. And now, please give a warm, warm welcome to Kimberly and Melissa. They're all the way here from Paris and London, Kentucky. So how are we doing? - Bad. - What do you mean, bad? - I mean we're broke. - How can we be broke, Larry? Well, you know, these giveaways are killing us. The limousine. The smorgasbord was a stupid idea. Then all your buddies are coming here every night drinking for free. You don't have to bring my friends into this. - Hey, ladies. - Hey, Larry, we're ready to go. You put forth some hard work. Thank you. Thank you. Ilanis, I'll be by in about an hour, and I'll bring the Ping-Pong balls. Leticia, I'll see you in two hours. Hey, Leticia, I liked the way you blew that candle out tonight. There's the secret, there. If I could just somehow let people know what great lays these girls are we'd have something. Larry, you can't advertise that. I know you can't, but Jimmy Mister, what kind of business is this? Well, now, I run the Hustler go-go clubs. - I'm sure you've heard of them. - No. Yeah, well, see, now that's why I need a newsletter. I figured we'd run maybe, eight, 10 pages per issue. With nothing but nudie pictures? Yeah, on this nice, smooth paper like this. - That's called "slick." - Slick, yeah. But I could get in trouble printing these. - Why? - Because there are laws. You gotta have some sort of text like Playboy does. - God will punish the sinner! - God will punish the sinner! Thank you all for coming to my establishment. And keep in mind, we welcome Christians in here too. Thank you. What do you think? Well, how much did it cost? Would you forget the money for one second? What do you think? Well, what I think depends on how much it cost. Look, there it is, the first Hustler newsletter. It's all for the man on the go, man about town. Here it is, news service. Larry, it's a magazine, not a newsletter. How you gonna pay for that? Don't interrupt me when I'm talking, okay? Let's hear it for Camille. You were wonderful. Welcome to the stage, gentlemen Calamity Jane from Moscow, Texas. Let's hear it for her. Who is that? That's the new girl. She got the moves, don't she? She ain't bad. - She ain't legal either. - Yes, she is legal. I saw her ID. Look, you stupid briarhopper, my dog could get an ID from my goat. Hey, listen when she gets done up there, send her on up to my office. What ? What's your name? - Jane. - Jane? - We have a policy in this club. - Oh, yeah? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Okay, and ? Trouble is, I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not of age. You know, this could cost me my liquor licence. I could have to close up shop and fire a lot of people. - I'll tell you something. - Please. Yeah, well, see this? See that? That? I am this far, one second, one millimetre one second from being legal. So I'm gonna have to ask you to come back when you're When that centimetre's up. Well, that would be tomorrow morning, then. I like the way you dance. I mean, don't get me wrong. What's that? Just a little something I got from down home. You're a classy guy. I've heard about you. This is moonshine. Is that ? Is this moonshine, right? - It's okay. It's just from potatoes. - What's it gonna do to me? Go ahead. It's fine. Natural. But step away from the desk, will you? That's like fire! - Sorry I made a mess. - It's okay. - Can I ask you a question? - Shoot. I heard that you've slept with every single girl in every one of your clubs. Sort of a prerequisite. I'm just wondering if that's true or not. Well, you know, it ain't entirely untrue, if that's what you mean. I'm just curious why you haven't taken a stab at me. I just met you five minutes ago. I think it was six. Tick, tick, tick tick tick. - Come on, one more time. - One more time? Come on, Althea, even Superman has his limits. That's the problem with you, you know, men. You know? Your batteries run out. Because we women, our batteries never run out. - We can go on and on and on. - Well, then, go fuck a woman. "Then, go fuck a woman." I do fuck women. Excuse me? You are not the only person in this club to have had every single woman in this club. After one night, she's moving in with you? Well, you know, this girl, she had it rough. - Grew up in an orphanage. - Hey. Hey, buddy. Hey. Are you that guy in that little sex paper? - Could be. - Love the pictures. How do I subscribe? Where did you come upon the newsletter? Found it in a bathroom in a gas station. Came in pretty handy. Well, I'm glad we helped you out, but, you know, it ain't for subscription. This guy. - Game one, steel-curtain defence - Chips? - never gave the Bengals a chance. - Chips? No, thanks. - Look at her tits. They're nice. - They're nice, but they don't look real. - I don't understand this magazine. - Look at her butt. Fuzzy pictures, articles but I don't know what the hell they're talking about. You guys read Playboy? - Well, yeah. Sure. - Yeah. Did you? Excuse me, baby. Did you enjoy this month's article on how to hook up your quadraphonic stereo system? I think I missed that one. And did you follow their advice on how to make a perfect martini? - Larry, come on, man, move over. - Who is this magazine for anyway? I mean, you know, if It's like, if you don't make 20,000 plus a year you don't jerk off. Seven million people buying it, and nobody's reading it. Gentlemen, Playboy is mocking you. - Give me a jelly doughnut, will you? - Yeah, I got your jelly. How many pages do we have right now, exactly? - We have 105. - That's no good. - Why not? - 106 is good. 104, that's good. - 105 - You connected with these numbers? No, it's gotta be an even number. Because a paper's got two sides, right? That's two. Multiples of two. No, a page has four. Four. It's like four. It's one, two, three, four. - You fold it, put the staple. - That's it. - It's not even an even number. - That's right. We'll get it figured out. We'll ask Larry. What the hell's he doing? Baby, let me see that flower in your left hand. No, not that one. Your other left hand. - Yeah, that's it. - What? Hey, hey, hey. Look, you know, we're not running a flower shop here, okay? We're selling the girl. Stop futzing around with the props and the pillows and the flowers, and just shoot the girl. Okay? Okay, now, let's go for that leg thing here. Let's recline a little. Yeah. Let's see you open up them legs a little bit. Now give me a little wider. That's it. Now give me a little wider. A little wider. Just another little touch wider. - No, baby, not quite that wide. - Wait, wait, wait. No. That Get back to that. That's exactly what we want. Here. Okay, that's perfect. Leave it there. That's what you want. A woman's vagina has as much personality as her face. - But you can't show the genitalia. - Why not? Well, Larry, Rudy's right. - You can't legally show the vagina. - Hey, shut up, Jimmy. - Rudy, are you a religious man? - Yeah. - Okay, you believe God created man? - Yeah. - God created woman. - Yeah. Well, then surely the same God created her vagina. And who are you to defy God? Just shoot her! Jesus Christ. Where is she? Althea! Hey, baby. Hey. Happy birthday, baby. And I have a heart from my heart. Larry, that's beautiful. - What's wrong? - The distributor called and unfortunately, we've had only a 25 percent sell-through. Somebody want to translate that for me? What that means is, they're sending back 150,000 copies. That's what it means. - Shit! - You're a stupid, dumb briarhopper. - What made you think you'd pull it off? - At least he has balls, Jimmy. - Yeah, well, what he needs is brains. - Oh, God, Einstein's speaking. I'm so impressed. - One more issue and we're wiped out? - Yeah. You said yourself, "It's not so bad to be poor." Hey, fuck you, Althea. You go be poor, okay? Fuck me? I believe you're the one that got us into this debt in the first place. You think just because it's your birthday that you can be a bitch? Yeah, and I think I'm 50 feet tall and you have a needle dick, okay? Don't ever hit me like that again. Don't talk to me like that. Don't hit me like that. I'll go back. I'll go back, and I'll eat dog food, okay? Dog food. You know, take this. I don't own this anymore. I don't have one. Throw it out in the street. We have a guy on the phone from Italy. He claims he has naked pictures of Jackie O. Put him through. Yeah, hello. - You the photographer? - Right, yeah. - What do you got? - Is this Mr. Flynt? Yeah, this is Mr. Flynt. Listen, I was watching that damn island for four months and then one day, man, cabana door opens and out comes Jackie O with nothing on. - I mean, not a single stitch. - You sure it's Jackie O? Yeah, sure. - And what do you see? - You see absolutely everything. Trust me. And she's a good one. This ain't no Mamie Eisenhower or Lady Bird. Oh, my God. First pussy. Everyone's talking about local boy done good - Hey! - What? Larry Flynt, whose Hustler magazine has reached national sales of an astonishing 2 million copies. - And in a stunning disclosure - Move your ass! WGBE-TV has learned that Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes, himself was spotted at a newsstand buying a copy of the infamous Jackie O issue. - I spoke to the governor today - Move it! and he had this response: Everybody knows I've been a historical buff about first ladies for a long time. Are you saying you'd be interested in nude photos of Martha Washington? - She's a little bit before my time. - Arlo! What about nude photos of your wife? A teacher educates our children and they become model citizens. The clergyman preaches, and we find spirituality. My bank gives loans, and homes get built. But now there's a new, darker influence in Cincinnati. Mr. Leis, if you would? Ladies and gentlemen, I ask that you review this material carefully. It's important you know that I did not buy these at a smut store. These were not purchased at a dirty book shop. I bought this in a neighbourhood grocery store in full view of our children. Ma'am, you cannot hide from this. Decent people are being corrupted. Why, just look what happened to our fine governor. As members of the Citizens for Decent Literature we cannot relent. We must prevent the destruction of the soul of our country. - Larry. - Yeah? Take off your pants. - What? - Take off your pants. - Why? - Because I never fucked a millionaire before. Look at that. Happy birthday, America! This is Larry's house? - Ma. Pa. - Must be it. - My son. - Hey. You came. - It's so big. - Hey, Larry. - Larry, who are all these people? - Well, these are my friends, Ma. - You have so many friends. - Lots of money, lots of friends. - Look at you. - Hey, Arlo. - Know how many rooms I have here? - No. Twenty-four rooms. Know who else has 24 rooms? - The president? - Hugh Hefner. This is the best room in the house. I think you're gonna like it. "This is the best room in the house," he said. You know, there's a maid still cleaning up in there. Let me just say a word. The maid's cleaning up in there. He's got Listen, my folks are here, so just move the girls into the Jacuzzi - and I'll get with you later. - Your folks are here? What in the world is that? - Hey, ladies. - Larry! The party is just beginning. She's nice and she's frigid. Have to see what we can do about that. One, two - Larry. - Yeah? Do you ever think about getting married? Oh, God. You know, there's nothing more certain to ruin a beautiful relationship than marriage. As soon as you get that ring around the finger, okay suddenly you have an ownership situation. Prior to that, it's friendly. You're kind to each other. And I'll tell you something. As much as I love you I want a variety of different Vagina, pussy. - I'm - What did we just do? - That's what I'm talking about. - What am I? So do you think I'm talking about monogamy? - You think I'm talking? - You're not talking about monogamy? No, of course not. Larry, how could you misunderstand me? I was wondering, because I thought I don't wanna get married and stop the way we live. The way that we live is great. Nothing would change. My God. - Why? Why now? - Because I only wanna be with you. You're the only man I wanna be with. I want this ring on my finger to tell me that you love me above all other women. - You want a ceremony? - I wanna go to a church. - We'll pay the - I want a preacher. Pay the preacher on the way in and we'll get a cash-ectomy from the lawyer on the way out. You are my life. - You're my life. I'm here - You're my life too. - for the rest of my life. - Right now, my life. I can't speak for 20 years down the line. - I can. - You can? - Yeah. - Let me say something, all right? - Oh, man. - No, no, no. Just forget I brought it up. Larry, just forget I brought it up. Listen to what I'm saying, okay? Listen to what I'm saying. Would you marry me? - It's not funny, a joke like that. - I'm not joking. Would you marry me? Would you do me the honour of becoming Mrs. Larry Flynt? You're not fucking with me? You mean it? - No, I'm just kidding. - You are? - No, I'm serious. I'm serious. - Don't. - She's got a dick. - She taped this on. Taped this on. This is not real. - Who would want to see that anyway? - I do. I think it's genius. It don't matter. It's like when people slow down at a car crash to peek. - We're breaking taboos. - How about The Wizard of Oz? - What do you mean? - Okay, like, Dorothy is laying there in Kansas, and there's the Tin Man and the Scarecrow and - Who's the other one? - The Lion. The Lion. And they're all gang-banging her. And there's Toto, maybe, even. Althea, I think there's You know, some things are sacred. Shut up. Althea, that is the best damn idea I ever heard. - Yeah. - It can work. - Where can I find Larry Flynt? - Work it out. What is it? Yeah, the Tin Man could have a tin penis. No, he's got that hat, like a funnel. You know, he's got that funnel hat. Larry Claxton Flynt? Larry Claxton Flynt! - Yeah. - Stand up, please, sir. - Hands behind your back. - What's this? You're under arrest on charges of pandering obscenity in Cincinnati - and engaging in organised crime. - Organised crime? Sit down. Shut up. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford one one will be appointed. Mr. Flynt? You Larry Flynt? - Who are you? - Alan Isaacman. I'm your lawyer. I got bail taken care of. Don't worry about that. We ought to talk about the case when you've rested. - Wait, wait. Who hired you? - Your wife hired me. - My wife? - Yeah. Are you doing her? Wai Am I? Am I what? I'm just kidding. I like you. Give me a call after you get out of law school. - No, I'm out of law school. - What are you, 22? 27. Harvard Law School. Three years in the public defender's office. Mr. Flynt, obviously you can get whoever you want to represent you but at least let me say one thing to you, okay? How should I ? You're pretty far out there, even for guys who do this stuff. Okay? I am interested in your case. The problem you've got is definitely what I know best. And I am good at what I do. - What, do you specialise in porn? - No, no. I don't specialise in porn. I'll be perfectly honest. I don't particularly like what you do. I specialise in civil liberties. You know, I don't understand why they've singled me out. Look, Mr. Flynt, this case is bigger than just you and your magazine. In your case, what's more troubling is this organised-crime charge. Organised crime? Larry's not in the mob. Mr. Flynt, I gotta ask you one time. Do you have any connections to organised crime? Absolutely not. Gotta ask. - By the way, call me Larry. - All right, Larry. In that case, Larry, this is a completely bullshit charge. But we have to take this seriously. You could be looking at seven to 25 years. Twenty-five years? All I'm guilty of is bad taste. My cousin Bobby shot a preacher in the back. - He got six months for it. - Bobby shot a preacher? - You didn't know? - What denomination? - Baptist. - I always liked that kid. Can we discuss Cousin Bobby later? We need to discuss this seriously. - If you want my opinion - I'm serious. I'm taking notes. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Before we begin I must apologise for the unpleasantness of this task. What you're about to see is going to take your breath away. Hustler magazine depicts men and women posed together in a lewd and shameful manner. Hustler depicts women and women posed together in a lewd and shameful manner. Hustler magazine depicts Santa Claus posed in a lewd and shameful manner. What's he talking about? Jesus Christ, Larry. Your Honour, the defence would like to introduce into evidence 27 other men's magazines sold in the Cincinnati area. - Titles such as Penthouse, Playboy - Objection! Sustained. Sustained? Wait a second. Your Honour, if I may. These magazines contain material that is virtually identical to Hustler. If these magazines are legal and Hustler is not legal then this is a case of selective prosecution. No. I'm sorry. Did you say no? I will not allow them into evidence. They're irrelevant to this case. But they are not irrelevant. They demonstrate the community standard - which is laid out - No! The jury is representative of community standards not a pile of magazines. I won't admit them. You won't admit them. Mr. Flynt would you please turn to page 77? Would you describe to the jury what is on page 77, please, sir? It's a picture of Santa Claus. What is Santa Claus doing? He's talking to Mrs. Claus and holding in his hand what appears to be a large, erect penis. And would you read the caption under that cartoon, please? It says: "This is what I've got to ho, ho, ho about." Mr. Flynt, do you think the Founding Fathers had a cartoon like this in mind when they wrote the First Amendment? No, but I don't think they had Playboy or People in mind either because I saw a couple of four-letter words in there. But isn't a community allowed to set its own standards? No. That's just a disguise for censorship. This country belongs to me as much as it belongs to you, Mr. Leis. And if you don't like Hustler magazine, don't read it. I don't. But what about children who gaze upon your magazine in our stores? Well, look you know, if a kid gets caught drinking beer in a tavern we don't ban Budweiser across the nation. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury you've heard a lot here today, and I'm not gonna try to go back over it all again for you. But you have to go back in that room and make some decisions. And there is one thing I want to make very clear to you before you do. I am not trying to convince you that you should like what Larry Flynt does. I don't like what Larry Flynt does. But what I do like is that I live in a country where you and I can make that decision for ourselves. I like that I live in a country where I can pick up Hustler and read it if I want to or throw it in the garbage can if that's where I think it belongs. Or better yet, I can exercise my opinion and not buy it. I like that I have that right. I care about it. And you should care about it too. You really should. Because we live in a free country. We say that a lot, but I think sometimes we forget really what that means, so listen to it again. We live in a free country. And that is a powerful idea. That's a magnificent way to live. But there's a price for that freedom, which is that sometimes we have to tolerate things that we don't necessarily like. So go back in that room, where you are free to think whatever you want to think about Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine. But ask yourselves if you want to make that decision for the rest of us. Because the freedom that everyone in this room enjoys is in a very real way in your hands. If we start throwing up walls against what some of us think is obscene we may very well wake up one morning and realise walls have been thrown up in all kinds of places that we never expected. And we can't see anything or do anything. And that's not freedom. That is not freedom. So be careful. Thank you. - Have you reached a verdict? - Yes, Your Honour, we have. Hand the verdict to the bailiff. Will the defendant please rise? Madam Clerk, read the verdict. "We, the jury, find the defendant Larry Claxton Flynt, guilty as charged on all counts." Do you have anything to say before I sentence you? Your Honour you have not made one intelligent decision during the course of this trial and I don't expect one now. Knock yourself out. I sentence you to 25 years in the Ohio State Penitentiary. - No! - We request bail. - Bail denied! - Denied? - Bailiff, take him away. - This is a standard procedure! All I do is publish a magazine! Mrs. Flynt, were you surprised by the verdict? No. I was not surprised by the verdict at all. We had a stupid judge. We had a uptight prosecutor, two of them. Are you ashamed to have your husband locked up? I am not ashamed of Larry. I never would be. I'd rather have a man who stands up for what he believes in. Of course, I'm not happy he's going to jail. But you know what? You guys can call this a circus you can call it a witch-hunt, but you can't Hi, baby. You are so beautiful. Oh, Larry. - How are you? - I miss you. I miss you too. You got any girlfriends in here? - You got calluses on your hands? - You know it. I fantasise about you, just, all the time. Our bed is so empty. Oh, baby. Oh, baby. Oh, God. Oh, baby. What can I do to get you out of here? You know, Isaacman says there's no way this is gonna hold up. What if Alan's wrong? What if you don't get out till the year 2000 and I'm fat and old and ugly, and you don't love me anymore? You ain't never gonna be old and fat and ugly. I promise you. - I love you. - I love you. Please, please, please. Please, please. And now, Americans for a Free Press take extreme pleasure in welcoming to Cincinnati, direct from jail cleared 100 percent by the appellate court This is really great. Americans for a Free Press to invite us here tonight. You idiot. Americans for a Free Press is me. - Who do you think's paying for this? - That freedom fighter Larry C. Flynt! Thank you. - Thank you. - We love you, Larry! I have a thought for you: Murder is illegal. But you take a picture of somebody committing the act of murder they'll put you on the cover of Newsweek. You might even win a Pulitzer Prize. And yet sex is legal. Everybody's doing it, or everybody wants to be doing it, huh? Yet you take a picture of two people in the act of sex or just take a picture of a woman's naked body and they'll put you in jail. Now, I have a message for all you good, moral, Christian people who are complaining that breasts and vaginas are obscene. Hey, don't complain to me. Complain to the manufacturer. Okay? Although Jesus told us not to judge, I know you will. So judge sanely. Judge with your eyes open. What do you consider obscene? Is this obscene to you? Or perhaps that's obscene to you. Maybe this is obscene to you. But what is more obscene? This? Or this? This? Or this? You know, politicians and demagogues like to say that sexually explicit material corrupts the youth of our country and yet they lie, cheat and start unholy wars. Look at them. They call themselves men. They're sheep in a herd! I think the real obscenity comes from raising our youth to believe that sex is bad and ugly and dirty. And yet, it is heroic to go spill guts and blood in the most ghastly manner in the name of humanity. With all the taboos attached to sex, it's no wonder we have problems. It's no wonder we're angry and violent and genocidal. But ask yourself the question: What is more obscene, sex - or war? - War! She's a She's a killer. - Larry? - Yeah? - Hi, Althea. - Hi, Arlo. Arlo, you wanted something? Yes, I've got bad news. A Georgia prosecutor arrested some news dealers for selling Hustler and some other retailers are getting nervous and they're taking issues off the stands. Fuel the jet. Okay. Wait. Alert the Georgia media. Tell them the cavalry's on the way. - Mr. Flynt? - Mr. Flynt? Larry, why are you here? Good, hardworking news vendors are being threatened. If that's not censorship, I don't know what is. - So, what's your plan? - Well, just watch me. Come on, right on in here. - You okay, baby? - I'm fine. Stand right over there. All right. Don't crowd. Let the cameras through, okay? You rolling? Now, what we're gonna do here is I'm gonna pay this gentleman $1000. I am renting the Puff and Read for the next 24 hours. I am in control now. And anybody who would like to purchase a copy of Hustler Could I please buy a copy of the Hustler magazine? Yes, you can, sir. Here is the Hustler magazine that I am selling That's it. Larry Flynt, you are under arrest. Okay. I gotta give him some change. Only in America, huh? - How far are you willing to go? - What are your plans now? There's many who support Hustler, but none are willing to support you. How do you feel about that? Why do I have to go to jail to protect your freedom? That's good. So we're gonna pay a million bucks? Why not? Listen, if it catches the killer, I think it's worth it. Okay, moving on. Asshole of the month. - Jerry Falwell. - You always say Jerry Falwell. Jerry Falwell is always an asshole. That's why, Arlo. How about this month we do Anita Bryant? I say Gerald Ford. I say Larry Flynt. Yeah, I like that, bro. I mean, everybody thinks I'm an asshole. - Yeah, it's true. - Is that right? - Larry, you have a phone call. - Take a message. - How about asshole of the decade? - She's calling from North Carolina. She says she's the president's sister. Ruth Carter something. Ruth Carter Stapleton? - She's a woman of God. - What does she want with you? What are you afraid of? Pick up the phone. Okay. Patch her through. Hello, this is Larry Flynt. - Praise the Lord, I've found you. - Hallelujah. What can I help you with? We have a mutual friend, Larry. A television producer and he suggested we get together. He thought you and I would hit it off. You know, I don't understand. I mean, you're an evangelist and I'm a smut peddler Larry, I don't believe in labels. I think you and I could teach each other a lot. So are you free for dinner tomorrow night? You know, I have a hectic schedule. You know what's nice about people like you and me, Mr. Flynt? - What's that? - We can do anything we want. Do you go to church, Larry? Yeah, church. Particularly, you know, the big holidays Christmas and Easter and New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve? Well, that They don't have church on New Year's Eve. Okay, well we've proven I'm a liar and - I never go. - It's not important. That's only a ritual. And I believe in going straight to the teachings of Jesus. And does she love that man. So would you call yourself a faith healer? Goodness, no. I do spiritual healing. I don't mend bones. I mend troubled souls. That's a relief. I thought you might be like those tent revival fakes you know, that used to come scare the kids with snakes and, you know, "Wicked this, wicked that," and Hellfire? Damnation? - That sort of thing? - Yeah. That kind of talk is almost unforgivable. Well, then, I'd say we have something in common. Actually, Larry, there's something else you and I have in common. What's that? We're both trying to release people from sexual repression. Really? I'm sorry, Mrs. Stapleton. So tell me, is your brother, Ji Mr. President - Jimmy. Jimmy will be fine. - Okay. Jimmy You think he ever read my publication? You remember that interview he gave Playboy magazine? The one where he admitted that he had lust in his heart? You know, I was especially proud of that. I'm sure you were. But Oral Roberts wasn't, and Billy Graham wasn't. And they took out after him in public. So I don't think he's a big fan of adult magazines. But you know, Larry, I'm more ambivalent about what you do. Because I think that sexuality is a God-given gift. I have to agree with you. When I counsel Pentecostal women in bad marriages I don't take the Bible out. I say to them, "Get some makeup. Get yourself some curlers. Make yourself beautiful. - Jesus wants you to be beautiful." - Yeah, well, that You're something. You surprise me. Larry, what was your childhood like? You know, sometimes things happen to us when we're very young that can hurt for many years after. You know, I think we're all born into this world Why? Why? - Because I had an epiphany, okay? - A what? - An epiphany. - Where'd you learn that damn word? She's crooking you so hard, she's teaching you English now? She ain't crooking me. - It was more an acid flashback. - Don't belittle it like that! It was a serious thing! Do you think that I wanted Jesus to tap me on the shoulder? I'm the last guy who wanted that. I'm getting laid six times a day. I got limos and a jet, and I'm sitting on a mountain of money. You think I wanted God tapping me on the shoulder? I didn't want that. - I had an epiphany once, Larry. - What was that? When my daddy shot my entire family in the head and I was the only one to identify the bodies. I got sent to an orphanage full of good, Christian nuns, who shoved my face into their pussies with their crucifixes on for eight goddamn years! - I'm sorry for you, but that does not - Don't be! Be sorry for yourself. - Don't start throwing that ring at me. - We're gonna be broke. You'll need that! Come on. It's okay. Just get behind me on this, okay? That's all I'm asking. I feel like it's me against the world. You're all I got, baby. Say you ain't gonna do this. Promise me you ain't gonna do it. - I'm doing it! I'm doing it! - No, Larry, you ain't gonna do it! Now I'm baptised too, is that it? Fuck you, Larry! Fuck you! Hi. How you doing? Do you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour and reject Satan and all his works? I do. In obedience to the will of God and upon the confession of this our brother we baptise you in the name of the Father and in the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! There will be no more photo spreads of women alone. From now on, sex will be presented in a more natural setting with the man in the picture, you know, a Genesis pictorial with Adam and Eve getting it on in the Garden of Eden. Then next month, I'd like to have pretty girls all floating on big, glass crucifixes. Yeah. Marjoe Gortner could shoot that. Larry, I plead with you not to do this. If you do this, this company's gonna be worth nothing. You're all looking at me like I'm growing horns out of my head. Look around you. We are living in Roman times. It is It is time to feed the lions to the Christians. This is a joke. You're just doing this to help our circulation. Arlo I love you, brother. But please don't ever, ever, ever doubt my sincerity. This is making people sick. They're going up to the newsstands, and they're puking. They're vomiting. Baby, I'm just trying to illustrate that I am no longer willing to exploit the female body. You failed miserably at that. Nobody on this planet wants their religion and their porn mixed together. Well, you know, Ruth says that sex Get your friend Ruth to buy 2 fucking million of these magazines because nobody else is gonna fucking do it. Larry, I'm not gonna pretend that I understand what you go through what this spiritual thing is to you. I never have. But I've always been supportive, always. And, honey, you're just taking this too far now. It's going too far. It's like you're losing your mind. Hey! My mind is fine. God is working through me. Don't you see that? I could accomplish anything. I could move mountains with God's help. You see that wall? I could make it come tumbling down with sheer willpower. God, do it. Just do it, then. Do it. - Do it? - Yeah. He's gonna be thrilled about this, really. Hey, Larry. Yeah, it's Alan. I'm here with the eminently reasonable district attorney of the state of Georgia. He's very impressed by your conversion and wants to cut us a plea bargain. A plea bargain because I found God. Larry, listen to me for a second. Don't argue with me on this, okay? Just say yes because I pulled a lot of strings to make this happen, okay? - Is he sitting right there with you? - Yeah. Could you do me a favour? Just tell that miserable, old, grey-haired bastard to go fuck himself. We're going to trial. - Okay, right. - And praise the Lord. Right. I got it. Okay. The Gwinnett County Court is now in session. Mr. Flynt, how can you, as a good Christian, defend this filth? I don't have to. It may be wrong in some people's opinion to portray women the way I have, but it's not illegal. It may not be the smartest thing to drink too much, but it's not illegal. You know, abortion may be morally repugnant, but right now it's not illegal. If we want to change the laws, that's another discussion. But our right to decide for ourselves cannot be restricted. You know, George Orwell said that if liberty means anything it means the right to tell people what they don't wanna hear. Now, America is the strongest country in the world today only because it is the freest country. And if it ever loses sight of its basic heritage and the principles involved, then we will no longer be free. Larry, over here! That was just a bang-up job you did. Did you pray before you went into the courtroom? No comment. No comment. Is your wife jealous of Ruth? - Is that true, Larry? - Mr. Flynt, do you have anything to say? This is Jackson. We got shots fired in front of the courthouse. - Somebody help! - We need an ambulance right away. Stand back! Stand back! Ma'am, stand back! We'll take care of you. Everything's gonna be all right. Right in the corner there. A 36-year-old male, gunshot wound to the left shoulder. Patient doesn't appear to have any moving sensation. I want him alive! I don't care if his head's in a fishbowl. Mrs. Flynt, now you listen to me. There's something you have to know before you go in that room. Hey. Larry, they say that you're paralysed. They say you're paralysed from the waist down. They say that you ain't gonna walk again. From the waist down? I fucking love you. I'm so sorry, Althea. Larry? My dearest, how are you? The pain. It's I feel like I'm in hell. No. No, you're not in hell. You belong to God. I wish he'd have killed me. I do. I can't ever walk again. I can't make love to my wife. I can't I can't have a child with her. But don't give in to the bitterness. You'll be so much stronger if you keep your faith. God will see you through this. Ruth there is no God. Take this thing down. I want all this Christian stuff out of here now. Ladies, gentlemen The reign of Christian terror at this magazine is now over. We're smut peddlers again. We're going back to our roots. - We are "porn again." - When's Larry coming back? Larry's coming back soon. So, what do we know? The FBI ain't got nothing. That's what we know. - Who would want to shoot you, Larry? - Who wouldn't want to shoot me? - I'd say it was the CIA. - Why? Because of the million dollars that was offered for J.F.K.'s killers. No. I think it was the interracial photo spreads. The KKK. The KKK? It wasn't the KKK. It was the Mob. The extreme religious right controls all of the fanatics. That's every American psycho. Let's try to narrow the field a little. - Larry - Yeah? you're always, always gonna have to watch your ass. Forever. I ought to move somewhere where perverts are welcome. Where you going, baby? I'm gonna get some ice cream. You want some? I want some more. Larry, I just gave you twice your dose. - Please, please, please. - Larry, you're gonna overdose. I'm not gonna overdose. I'm in pain. - You're just doing this to get off. - More! I'm only giving you half of what I just gave you. Don't ask for any more for a while. Tight. Okay. Okay, let go. Let go. You all right? I love you, baby. Oh, God. Oh, God. - Hi, Dr. Bob. - Hello, Althea. - How's Larry today? - Shitty. Pretty shitty. - How are you today, Larry? - Terrible. I'm in pain. He can hardly talk. Larry, we're running out of options here. The drugs, your pain, it's gonna kill you. Something stronger. This is 30 grand. Can we just have our medicine, please, Dr. Bob? In peace? Larry, there is an operation. Apparently it's been very successful for this kind of pain. - Ready for the laser. - Laser ready. Five watts. Okay, let's go. Hey, baby. - Hi, cutie. - What's that? Some lady died down the hall, and I got her flowers. - How do you feel? - I feel good. - You feel good? - Yeah, I feel I feel great. For the first time since those bullets I don't feel any pain. - No, I don't want it, baby. - What do you mean? What do you? I feel good. And you're not on nothing? You're crooking me, or you're a fucking liar. You've been on drugs for four or five years, Larry. I have a hard time believing that you feel really great on nothing right now. Is it that hard to believe that I don't want any? Yes, it's that hard to believe. I was taking the drugs because I was in pain. I'm not in pain now, so I don't want it. Why would I want it? - I don't know. - I don't know why you want it. Well, if I don't take it, I'll go into seizures and get really sick. And it makes me feel good. Here. - I don't want it! - In two hours, you'll want it! I'm done with it! I'm done with it, okay? - You've said this before. - Stop it! That's because you're fucking on Here take all Come on, Larry. Stop. Stop it. - Get away! I don't want it! - Stop. You're gonna hurt You're gonna hurt yourself. Stop it, please. Stop it, stop it, stop it. I don't know. We've been through a lot together. We can make it through this. - You gonna go cold turkey? - I am, and so are you. Okay? - No. - Yes. - Okay. - Okay? - Okay. - Okay. No. I can't, Larry. What am I gonna do? What the hell do I need that shit for? I want my mind back. Yes, Ms. Bacardi, hi. The pervert is back! What's your name? Sophie. Tell everybody the pervert is back. The pervert is back. The pervert is back. - The pervert is back. - Circulation is down by a third. Colour reproduction is horrible. The models look like they're 3-dollar whores. The writing is by some moronic idiots. Mr. Flynt, I don't want to step on your toes but things have changed since you were actively running the company. I mean, I look back at the stuff you did in the '70s, and it was sort of racy and crazy. But the country's different now. Reagan has rebuilt America, and the Moral Majority is gaining power. You're fired. Excuse me? You, get the fuck out of my building! Doug, get him out of here! Get that blow-dried jerk motherfucker and throw him in the incinerator! Cut him into pieces and feed him to the animals! Get out of here! Larry, Larry, you can't do that! I mean, he's our vice president! He's the VP of marketing! Hey, Jimbo, are you trying to challenge my authority? You see that on the wall? "LFP." That's Larry Flynt Publications. Not JFP! Okay, I'm the big kahuna here! Do you have a problem with that? No, Larry. You're the boss. So, Larry, what's the plan? Plan. The plan is simple. The establishment took my manhood from me but they left half of me. The half with the brain. And I'm gonna use it to get back. - Hello? - Wake up. Who is this? It's Larry Flynt. Is CBS interested in seeing videotape of the FBI selling John DeLorean 50 kilos of cocaine? - Are you Mr. Waverly? - Yeah, yeah. Who are you? I'm Mrs. Flynt. Do you want some coffee or tea or sandwiches or Ho Hos or Pringles or something? No, that's all right. Can I just see the tape, please? - John DeLorean. - It's DeLorean. These are the drug dealers. And guess what this is. That's the coke? That whole suitcase? Yeah, watch this. DeLorean, he The first time to touch it. That's it. That's all the contact he had with that cocaine. This is my favourite part. They can't get this damn They can't get the suitcase closed, right? There's a lot of cocaine in this motherfucker. How do you get the damn thing closed? They're all pushing down on it. - This is amazing. - Now they do a toast. Now watch this. This is weird. There's a knock at the door. Tubby gets up and goes to the door. Look. Four million dollars' worth of cocaine, nobody's even nervous. Now watch. FBI. FBI, right? This guy's got a good camera sense. Watch him clear camera. "Let me get out of your way." Now watch this guy. Grabs his champagne, and he walks away. These guys aren't concerned about him, because they're FBI. Your Honour, the tapes are genuine, and we have a right to broadcast them. - This is stolen government evidence. - This will make a fair trial impossible. My client, Mr. DeLorean, will never find an impartial jury. - We're talking constitutional rights - Judge, you do not condone Gentlemen, gentlemen, please. stolen tapes. - Gentlemen, that's enough. - It's stolen, judge. It's stolen. Here is the Campari ad-campaign parody. "Jerry Falwell talks about his first time." You guys are stupid. Do you ever say anything positive, Jimmy? - Larry. - Yeah? I got a subpoena for you to appear in federal court tomorrow to reveal the source of the DeLorean tape. The FBI got very pissed off. They want you in front of the judge tomorrow. Well, you tell that judge I'm wiping my ass with his subpoena. Why is your client doing this? Your Honour, my client is a very complicated man. He's heavily medicated, among other things. I believe him to be an undiagnosed manic-depressive. Well, I'll give him something to be depressed about, all right. I'm issuing a bench warrant for his arrest. a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Flynt "If anyone tries coming after me, I'll shoot him between the eyes." Flynt has been barricaded in his Beverly Hills compound for three days. Holy shit! Freeze! Federal marshals! You, drop the gun. Now! Hands in front! Hands! You, hands on your head. Now! On your knees! NBC, ABC. What the hell's wrong with you, CBS? - We're federal marshals! Come out! - Shut up! Where are your fucking priorities? We interrupt this programme for a special report. I turned the whole world into a tabloid! Here I come. - Larry, are you going somewhere? - Yeah! - Larry - Roll on out of there, Flynt, now! Will you get me some bananas? Yes, I'll get you bananas Thank you, honey. Please raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible. Larry. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - so help you God? - No. No? Your Honour, I'm an atheist. I can't very well swear to a God I don't believe exists. - Mr. Flynt, you are a handful. - I know, Your Honour. We'll allow you to affirm if that's satisfactory with you, sir. That would satisfy me. I need for you to answer one question, and then you're able to go back home. Shoot. What was the source of this videotape? Your Honour, Vicki Morgan was Alfred Bloomingdale's mistress. - Excuse me, Your Honour. - Excuse It's okay, Alan. And Alfred introduced her to all Reagan's Cabinet buddies. And she was a real party girl. And they really liked her. If you know what I mean, Your Honour. So the thing about Vicki is, she was a bit naive and she started writing a book about all these orgies that they were having. And next thing you know, bam, she's murdered. But what these White House killers don't realise is that Vicki kept some videotapes of their sexcapades. And these tapes, Your Honour, are pure carnality. Filthy. I've never seen anything Well, I have, but most people haven't seen anything like this. Your Honour What has this got to do with the DeLorean trial? That's a good question. Well, technically, nothing, Your Honour. But, you know, I have those tapes and this tape, and it just made me think of it. Mr. Flynt, I'd appreciate it, sir, if you would stick to the subject. Now, I'll ask you again, what was the source of this videotape? Your Honour, with all due respect, you don't have the right to ask! That's it. You're in contempt of court. And as of tomorrow, I'm fining you $10,000 a day until you reveal the source of your videotape! Look, there's Larry. Look. All right, folks, make way. Let us through. Mr. Flynt, is this a conspiracy? Do you have the tapes? Are you just trying to sell more magazines, Larry? Larry, where did you get the tapes? What have you done with the Vicki Morgan tapes. Do we get to see? Do you really have the Vicki Morgan sex tapes? No. I told them I had the DeLorean tapes. Now they believe anything I say. Sir, take that helmet off. We don't wear hats in the courtroom. There's no war going on here. You can never be too careful, Your Honour. Don't worry, the government will take care of you. We brought some extra marshals today. I'd appreciate your taking off that helmet. Are you going to obey the court and reveal the source of that videotape or are you gonna pay the $10,000 that I ordered? - I'd like a moment with my client. - I don't need it. It is my right under the freedom of the First Amendment, to protect my sources! Listen, don't go any further. Shut up! Relax, Alan, relax! Mr. Flynt, is that an American flag you have on? I have fashioned this American flag into a diaper. If you're gonna treat me like a baby, I'm gonna act like one. I'm ordering you arrested for desecration of the flag. Take him into custody. - Your Honour, we'd like to post bond. - Get the hell away from me! - Take it easy. - Just a minute, marshal. Very well. The court will set a bond on Mr. Larry Flynt for $50,000. - This time I'd prefer a cashier's cheque. - Understood. Understood. Furthermore I'm gonna keep Mr. Flynt under a tight leash. So as a condition of his bond, he cannot leave the state of California. Larry! Hey, Larry! Hey! - Larry, you're not getting on that plane. - Yes, I am. No, you're not! - You think this is some kind of a game? - You're right. It's a fucking joke! Five and a half years since they shot me, and the government I was there too, all right? Remember? I am not running around - pissing off everyone who can help us. - Well, you can walk and you can fuck, and I'm in this chair! And I got money. And that gives me the power to shake up this system. Dougie. Find somebody else to help you, then. This is not what I signed on for. I don't even know what we're engaged in anymore, Larry. - If you get on that plane, I quit. - Alan, don't be so melodramatic. You don't want to quit me. I'm your dream client. I'm the most fun, I'm rich and I'm always in trouble. Hey, go to hell, Larry. Go to hell. Bye. Why did you disobey this court's order? You were not to leave California. - We had an honest misunderstanding. - Counsellor, he's right. Some rules are made to help us, not hurt us, and I I do apologise, Your Honour, and I wanna fess up and reveal my source. Now tell me who was the source of this videotape? - The samurai. - Excuse me? The samurai gave me the tape. And who is this man, and where is he? Unfortunately, he had a critical groin injury on the way to give me the tape, and he's undergoing acupuncture treatment in Beijing, China right now. - It's okay, Alan. - Mr. Flynt. This court fears that you're seriously mentally ill. Opinions are like assholes: Everybody's got one. - Cut it out. - Shut up, Alan! - Shut up. - You shut up! Mr. Flynt, let your lawyer do the talking. No, I know the rules, okay? - You're fired. I'm representing myself - I am so tired of you. You're fired. - You can't fucking fire me! - No cursing in this courtroom! What? - Larry Flynt - How about spitting? Marshal, put a gag on that man. - Sit down, sir. - You bastard! Sit down, lady! Be seated there in the back! - Get off me! - Everybody down in this courtroom! All right, Mr. Flynt, are you willing to calm down now, sir? If I take that gag off of you are you gonna show me and my staff the respect that we deserve? All right, marshal. - Fuck you, you son of a bitch! - I've had enough of this. You leave me no choice but to sentence you to 9 months. - Nine months? Is that all you got? - Three more months. - Fuck you, Your Honour! - Want more? - Larry, stop it. - Sit down, lady! Larry Flynt you are sentenced to 15 months in a federal psychiatric prison. Hey, don't look at me. Ask for bail, counsellor. Can I post bail, Your Honour? No! - Now get him out of my courtroom! - Fucking bastard! You can say all of those foul words behind four padded walls. Get him out! - Gentlemen. - Something we'd like to show you, sir. I don't understand. The reverend would never endorse a liquor company. - There's a larger problem. - Substantially larger. You see, sir, it says right there that the reverend It says, sir that he fornicated with his mother in an outhouse. Give me a second. Now, what do you boys have for me today? Reverend, I think you need to read this. Give me your jacket, please. Jesus Christ. Stand up, please. Raise your foot. - Arms up. - Arms what? Arms up. Larry you look so good. You look like shit. - What? - Larry I don't want to work at the magazine anymore. People there don't listen to me and they don't talk to me. They're afraid of me and they don't shake my hand. Larry, I went to Dr. Robert and He told me that I was sick. I mean, sick-sick. I mean, I got AIDS, Larry. They won't shake your hand? Yes, sir. Yes. Code pink. Code pink. Code pink. Code pink. Larry, it's Jimmy here. You there? Larry? Larry, you there? I have some important announcements to make. - How's the hospital treating you? - Never mind that. - Is everybody there? - We're here, Larry. Good. You're all fired. You can't just fire these people. We need these people. Shut up! It's my business, and I'll run it into the ground if I want to. Okay, that's all. I gotta go. What the fuck was that? Just calm down, Arlo. Don't panic on me. None of you guys are fired. - But Larry just said that - What did he say? He's in a nut house. You're not fired. Is that a problem? Thank you. Thanks. Jesus, Althea. Hi, hi. Come on, sit down. Sit down. You all right, Mrs. Flynt? Fine, thanks. You look different. I don't know. Did you change your hair? - Yeah, I changed my hair. - Yeah, I like it. Yeah, my hair's different. So, what's up? I got this the other day, and I brought it by to see if you would look at it, please. Wow, that is - I mean, this is - It's intense. Yes, it is. What are we gonna do? - You're gonna give it to Larry's lawyers. - Alan, you are our lawyers. You've always been our lawyers. You're part of the family. Don't listen to Larry. - You know how he is. - I don't know, Althea. We really need your help. Please, please help us. Please, please Alan. Boy, this is great, Larry. This is really great. I hope it was worth it. Didn't I fire you? Well, I've always ignored most of what you've said, right? Listen, I know the timing is lousy but you remember your little Campari ad? The Jerry Falwell in the outhouse with his mother and ? He saw it. And I guess it's safe to say he He didn't find it all that funny. He is suing you for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. And he is asking for 40 million dollars. This is Jerry Falwell in his home state. So if you're up to it we really ought to figure out how you want to deal with this. Countersue. - What? - Yeah, Jerry. He's suing you. He's suing me? For heaven's sakes, on what grounds? Well, you xeroxed his ad and you sent it out in a million fundraising letters. Yeah, so? But you didn't get his permission. And that's copyright infringement. The depth of his depravity sickens me. They'll put you on the stand, and your testimony will make or break us, as always. So downplay how much you hate Falwell. You've got to make them understand that it was just a joke. I'm just a clown Take this seriously, Larry. This is gonna be the most expensive case you've ever had - if you lose. - Okay! Reverend Falwell, you're a preacher, is that right? Yes, I am. And as a preacher, you speak to a fairly broad audience. You preach on television and on your "Old-Time Gospel Radio Hour"? I do. So you've achieved a certain notoriety. One might say a national reputation for your sermons and your opinions and ideas and your leadership of the Moral Majority. Yes, our membership is now over 5 million. But even beyond your membership, really, you've been recognised and awarded for your efforts all over America. I have a number of honorary degrees. In a recent poll of Good Housekeeping magazine I was voted Second Most-Admired American behind President Reagan. Good Housekeeping? That's I mean, hey, you're famous, right? Well, I suppose you could say that. Reverend Falwell, have you ever had sex with your mother? - Absolutely not. - Never? I mean, you never ? Never in the outhouse as Hustler magazine suggested? That is an absurd question. My mother was a very godly woman and as close to a saint as anyone I have ever known. I'm sure she was. Reverend, have you ever preached while you were drunk? Drunk? Never. Never? You never even had a few too many and then went back on the radio? That is a totally outrageous suggestion. - Totally outrageous? - Totally. You don't think that some people, Reverend Falwell despite your reputation, might have reason to believe you could do that? I would find that very difficult to believe. So really, what you're telling me is that nobody could reasonably think these statements were true? Yes, that's what I've been saying. Okay. Reverend Falwell, at the beginning of this trial Judge Kirk gave very specific instructions to this jury, okay? She said, quote, "If a reasonable person could not believe that Hustler magazine describes actual facts about Jerry Falwell then you must dismiss the libel claim." Do you remember these instructions? Obviously not. So I'm gonna ask you one more thing. Why are you suing my client for libel? I am not a lawyer, Mr. Isaacman. I am a lawyer, okay, and I can't figure it out either. Would you state your full name for the record, please, Mr. Flynt? Yes, sir. Christopher Columbus Cornwallis IPQ Harvey HN Pagey Piu. That's very interesting, but are you also known as Larry Flynt? A.k.a. Jesus H. Flynt, Esquire. For chrissakes. Are you the publisher and the editor in chief of Hustler magazine? I am the publisher of the most tasteless, sleaziest most disgusting, greatest porn magazine on the face of the earth. Thank you. I have in my hand Exhibit B which is a typewritten script of the Campari ad. When you approved this ad, did you have any specific knowledge that the Reverend Falwell had ever engaged in sexual intercourse with his mother? No. But I have a photograph of Falwell having fellatio with a sheep. Now, I don't think Your Honour, my client is in a heavily medicated, mentally agitated state. We will stipulate that no such document exists. I have it, and Mr. Fartwell is a liar, a glutton and a sheep-ophile. My client's name is Jerry Falwell! - Jerry Falwell! - That's what I said, Jerry Fartwell! Are you trying to hold the Reverend Falwell up to ridicule? - No, contempt. - Scorn? - Truculent. - Obloquy? God, my French is so rusty. I love her. - Quiet in the courtroom. - I love you, baby. Jesus loves me. Mr. Flynt Do you have an aversion to organised religion? - A virgin? - No, aversion. You heard me. An aversion to organised religion. I You bet your sweet ass I do. Does that give you licence to mock the leaders of religious movements? Well, goddamn right. - Objection! This is totally irrelevant! - Overruled. - Free expression is absolute. - Thank you, Your Honour. Do you agree? Order. Ma'am, if you can't control yourself you're going to have to leave the courtroom. So then, it was your intention to hold Reverend Falwell out to be a hypocrite? Wasn't it? Well, that's what he is. But didn't it occur to you that Falwell must have an integrity that people can believe in if he is to practise his profession? Yeah. And it was your intent to destroy that integrity and his livelihood if you could? To assassinate it. Hey, it's me. It's a weird decision. - Well, get me Bill, quick. - No, he's not guilty of libel. But he is guilty of "inflicting emotional distress." Now Flynt has to pay him 200 grand! This ruling shows that nobody can prostitute the First Amendment. Pornography has thrust its ugly head into our everyday lives. The billion-dollar sex industry, of which Larry Flynt is a self-described leader lust and greed have replaced decency and morality. We must make a solemn commitment to God Almighty to turn this nation around immediately. Fucking AIDS junkie. You crazy cripple. Listen, it's just not that funny. And I'm afraid it wasn't funny the first time we printed it. Well, guys, I'm certainly open to suggestions. I would suggest that if we're going to recycle it that we replace the noun I thought I fired all of you. Jimmy come here. Larry I'm sorry if I tried to run things but you know, I was just trying to protect you. Come here. Closer. Come on. Don't sweat it, bro. I love you. I love you too, man. Larry, you look great, man. Chester, you remember Althea? Shake her hand. Hey, Althea, you - Hi, Chester. - Hi. Don't sneak up on us. Give us a heart attack. Yeah, what the hell. Shake Althea's hand. Althea, good to see you. - Welcome back. - Hello, Faith. - Hi, Althea. - What do you do? I'm a secretary. - Good to see you, Althea. - Arlo, hi. Water. - I got it. - No. I wanna take my bath. I wanna take my bath. Okay. Why don't you hop on? I'll give you a ride. Go ahead. Buckle up. Daddy. Yes. You're crushing my legs! You're shivering, baby. Sorry. You're shivering. Detour! Oh, no. What are you doing? You're gonna kill us. It's okay. They'll freeze us and thaw us out in the year 3000. Kerbside service. That'll be $8.50, lady. Dr. Kipper, please. Larry Flynt. Dr. Kipper? She doesn't look good. Well, I know, but there's gotta be something more we can do. Some new technology or drug. What are they doing in Europe? You know money's no object. Althea? Althea! Althea! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! No! No! Baby! Help! Help! Baby! No! No. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die. In my Father's house are many rooms. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there you may be also and you will live with me forever and ever." You cannot mock God. You cannot fool God. If you violate his laws God Almighty will judge you. AIDS is a plague. These perverted lifestyles have to stop. If you break moral laws you reap the whirlwind. Alan, it's Larry. I wanna appeal the Falwell case. This is over. Over. - No, it's not over. We can go higher. - Higher? The Supreme Court. - Yeah. - Give them a call. It's not that simple, Larry. It's not that simple. Thousands of people every year petition the Supreme Court, okay? Now, our case is as good as any. Our case is better than most. You're missing my point. My point is, they will never pick you because you're a nightmare! They're afraid if they let you in court, you'll wear a diaper or throw oranges. And they should be! In all the times you've gone to court asking for help you've never demonstrated respect for its institutions and procedures. As far as they're concerned, you're just a pig. Yeah, well You always said, and it's the principle "A pig has the same rights as a president." Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's - You know, people get tired of a pig. - Bullshit! You're scared, Alan. You're scared. You're letting these guys steamroll Look, it's not just them, Larry! Okay? It's me! It's me! I am not taking you. Lawyers dream about a case like this in front of the Supreme Court. They would probably hear us, if you want the truth. But I am not going with you! I have been giving you my best since back when people were laughing at you. And every time I come in there, you fuck me with this circus act! I won't do it again. I can't. I'm not gonna do it in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Your sentimental speeches and your cornball patriotism they don't work on me anymore, Lar, because I don't believe you. I don't believe you. You're my My friend, Alan. We're friends. You know, I just I would love to be remembered for something meaningful. Any research problems, I encourage you to use my archives. And tell the reverend that I've dealt with this filth monger myself and I wish to offer my support. Is that the Tin Man? Yes that's the Tin Man. God versus the devil. America's minister versus America's pimp. Today is the showdown. Many were surprised by the high court's decision to hear Flynt's case but he had some unlikely supporters filing briefs on his behalf: The New York Times, the American Newspaper Publishers Association - and the Association of - All rise. The honourable, the chief justice and the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oyez, oyez, oyez. All persons having business before the honourable U.S. Supreme Court are admonished to draw near and give their attention. For this court is now sitting. God save the United States and the Supreme Court. We'll hear the argument first this morning in number 86-1278. Hustler magazine and Larry C. Flynt v. Jerry Falwell. Mr. Isaacman, you may proceed whenever you're ready. Mr. Chief Justice, and may it please the court. One of the most cherished ideas that we hold in this country is that there should be uninhibited public debate and freedom of speech. Now, the question you have before you today is whether a public figure's right to protection from emotional distress should outweigh the public interest in allowing every citizen of this country to freely express his views. But what was the view expressed in Exhibit A? Well, to begin with, this is a parody of a known Campari ad. - I understand. Go ahead. - Okay. Also, and more importantly, it was a satire of a public figure of Jerry Falwell, who was really a prime candidate for such a satire because he's such an unlikely person to appear in a liquor ad. This is a person that we are used to seeing at the pulpit, Bible in hand preaching with a famously beatific smile on his face. But what is the public interest you're describing? That there is some interest in making him look ludicrous? Yes. There is a public interest in making Falwell look ludicrous. Insofar as there is a public interest in having Hustler magazine express the point of view that Jerry Falwell is full of B.S. And Hustler magazine has every right to express this view. They have the right to say that somebody, who has campaigned against our magazine who has told people not to buy it who has publicly said it poisons the minds of Americans who, in addition, has told people that sex out of wedlock is immoral, that they shouldn't drink Hustler magazine has a First Amendment right to publicly respond to these comments by saying that Jerry Falwell is full of B.S. It says, "Let's deflate this stuffed shirt and bring him down to our level." Our level in this case being admittedly a lower level than most people would like to be brought to. I apologise. I know I'm not supposed to joke, but that's sort of the point. Mr. Isaacman, the First Amendment is not everything. It's a very important value, but it's not the only value in our society. What about a value which says good people can enter public life and public service? The rule you give us says that if you stand for public office or become a public figure you cannot protect yourself or indeed your mother against a parody of your committing incest with her in an outhouse. Do you think George Washington would've stood for office if that was the consequence? It's interesting you mention Washington, Justice Scalia because very recently, I saw a political cartoon that's over 200 years old. It depicts George Washington riding on a donkey, being led by a man and the caption suggests this man is leading an ass to Washington. I can handle that. I think George can handle that. But that's a far cry from committing incest with your mother in an outhouse. I mean, there's no line between the two? No, Justice Scalia. There is no line between the two. Because what you're talking about is a matter of taste, not law. As you yourself said, I believe, in Pope v. Illinois: "It's useless to argue about taste and even more useless to litigate it." And that is the case here. The jury has already determined for us that this is a matter of taste and not a matter of law because they've said there's no libellous speech. Nobody could believe Hustler was suggesting that Falwell had sex with his mother. So why did Hustler have him and his mother together? Hustler puts him and his mother together in an example of literary travesty, if you will. And what public purpose does this serve? It serves the same public purpose as having Gary Trudeau say Reagan has no brain or that George Bush is a wimp. It lets us look at public figures a little differently. We have a long tradition in this country of satiric commentary. Now, if Jerry Falwell can sue when there's been no libellous speech purely on emotional distress, then so can other public figures. Imagine suits against people like Gary Trudeau and Johnny Carson for what he says on The Tonight Show tonight. Obviously, when people criticise public figures they're going to experience emotional distress. We know that. It's the easiest thing to claim and impossible to refute. That's what makes it a meaningless standard. Really, all it does is allow us to punish unpopular speech. And this country is founded, at least in part on the firm belief that unpopular speech is absolutely vital to the health of our nation. Thank you, Mr. Isaacman. Reverend, are you confident you will win this case? Absolutely. There's no way the Supreme Court will come down on the side of a sleaze merchant like Larry Flynt. Mr. Keating, why are you here today? To support people who believe pornography should be outlawed. because if the First Amendment will protect a - What did Grutman call me? - Scumbag. scumbag like me, well, then it will protect all of you. Because I'm the worst. Larry, do you have any regrets? Only one. Larry. Larry. Larry. - Hello? - It's Alan. - They just brought the decision in. - Well, is it good or bad? Well, it's a unanimous decision. And Rehnquist wrote it himself. - Is it good or bad? - I want you to hear this. "At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the importance of the free flow of ideas. Freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of individual liberty but essential to the quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole. In the debate about public affairs many things done with less than admirable motives are nonetheless protected by the First Amendment." So we won. Yes, we did. We won. Thank you, Alan. - Thank you. - Don't mention it. We won, baby. Strip for me, baby. Why? So when you're old and ugly, you can look back at this. I'm never gonna be old and ugly, Larry. You're gonna be old and ugly.